Once upon a time there was a queen who had a cat. She also had a husband - a king, a beautiful kingdom, jewelry and many faithful servants. But more than anything else, the queen loved her cat.
She was very beautiful: with lush silver fur and bright blue eyes. She also loved the queen very much. They were always together, and the cat was allowed to eat at the royal table.
One day the cat had a kitten and he was named Kip.
“You are happier than me,” the queen said to the cat. “I don’t have children, and you have such a wonderful baby, and you leave me, leaving him in my care.”
“Don’t cry, Your Highness,” said the cat, who was as intelligent as she was beautiful. “Tears won’t help my grief.” I promise you that soon you will give birth to a baby.
That same night, the cat went into the forest to find her relatives, and after a while the queen gave birth to a lovely daughter, who was named Ingrid.
The little princess and the kitten became very good friends. They played together all day and slept in the same crib. But one day the kitten went to catch mice at night and disappeared. Nobody saw him again.
Years have passed. One day Princess Ingrid was playing with a ball in the garden. She threw the ball up as high as possible, amused and laughing. And so, the ball she threw fell into a bush with roses. She went to look for him and heard a voice:
- Hello, Ingrid!
She looked at her feet and saw a lovely tabby cat.
- How do you know my name? she asked.
- Don’t you remember me? “My name is Kip,” said the cat.
“I’ve never heard of this name,” Ingrid answered.
“I’m Kip,” the cat continued. - When I was little, I slept in your arms. But children, unlike cats, have short memories,” the cat said with regret.
Suddenly her governess appeared next to the princess, who, seeing the cat, shouted:
- Get away, you dirty thief!
Hearing this, the cat immediately disappeared into the bushes. Ingrid, thoughtful, went to the palace. In the evening, while she was lying in bed, the queen came to wish her good night, and Ingrid asked her about the cat.
“Yes, indeed, it was so,” said the queen. “I wish I could see Kip again.”
The next day it was incredibly hot and it was impossible to play in the garden. Ingrid and the governess went to the edge of the forest.
There they sat under a shady tree, and Ingrid began to hum softly.
After a while, the governess fell asleep, or so it seemed to Ingrid.
She jumped up and, rushing into the forest, began to call loudly:
- Kip, Kip!
She saw a stream and, taking off her shoes, walked into the cool water. Suddenly a suspicious noise was heard from behind.
Turning around, she saw a huge black monstrous giant behind her. He grabbed Ingrid by the hands and growled in a terrible voice:
- Come with me!
He pulled her along and walked so fast that Ingrid could barely keep up with him. Her feet were worn until they bled, but she did not dare ask him to return to the stream for her shoes.
Her tears infuriated the giant.
“I can’t stand crying children,” he said. - If you don't stop, I will kill you!
He took out a huge knife and cut off Ingrid's feet. Putting them in his pocket, he disappeared into the forest.
Shocked and groaning in pain, Ingrid fell to the ground. Suddenly she heard a faint whistle.
- Help! - she screamed with all her might.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” the voice answered her. It was Kip. He rode in his own carriage, drawn by a magnificent horse. He picked Ingrid up and carefully placed her in the carriage.
Waking up and opening her eyes, Ingrid suddenly discovered that she was lying in a soft snow-white bed, and Kip was feeding her warm milk from a spoon.
Her legs no longer hurt because Kip anointed them with the magic verbena ointment.
“Try not to move,” Kip said. “Sleep until I find the giant and bring your feet back.” I will lock the door so that no one will disturb you.
Kip got into his carriage and drove off. After some time he saw the giant's hut. He leaned his ear against the keyhole and began to listen.
The giant was talking to his wife.
“This girl is an ugly crybaby,” he said angrily.
- I have to kill her.
“You will have time to do this tomorrow,” his wife answered him. “We’ll fry her and have a delicious dinner.”
“She’s too young,” replied the cannibal. - At this age they are still very bony.
While they were talking. Kip made his way into the kitchen and, taking a large packet of salt, poured it into the soup cooking on the stove. Then he hid again.
Soon the cannibal's wife brought soup from the kitchen, and they began to eat it with huge ladles. The large amount of salt made their throats dry.
“I’ll probably go to the well and have a drink,” said the cannibal.
“Me too,” answered the wife.
When they left, Kip snuck into their hut and pulled Ingrid's foot from the pocket of his ludo - the food jacket. He grabbed them and ran home as fast as he could.
Ingrid was waiting for him.
“Here, take it,” said Kip, “and don’t worry.” I will lubricate them with magic ointment, and they will grow back in a second.
He placed the severed feet on Ingrid's legs and anointed them with magical vervain ointment.
“But you shouldn’t get out of bed for several days,” he said. “Tomorrow I’ll take you home.” The Queen will be very glad to see you alive and well.
Indeed, the queen was happy to see her daughter again.
Taking Ingrid from Kip's arms, she asked him:
- How can I thank you? You saved her life, and her life is more valuable to me than my own.
“Don’t think about it yet,” Kip replied. - Take care of Ingrid.
Somehow I will ask you for help.
Kip got into his carriage and returned home. When Ingrid heard that Kip had left, she was very sad. She could neither eat nor drink and think about nothing but him.
Her mother brought her new elegant dresses, exotic fruits and fairy tales, but nothing could dispel Ingrid's sadness.
- I don’t know what to do! - said the queen, turning to her husband, the king.
- I tried everything.
“Not everything,” the king said thoughtfully.
- What do you mean? - asked the amazed queen.
- We must find her a husband. Maybe this will save her from sadness.
The queen agreed, and beautiful young princes came to the palace from all over. Having chosen the bravest and most beautiful of them, Ingrid smiled for the first time, and they became engaged.
The wedding day was approaching. All the bells were ringing. In the palace church, the priest married the newlyweds.
After the wedding ceremony there was a ball. Already at the end of the ball Kip appeared. Ingrid was very happy to see him. She hugged him and kissed him.
“I want to ask you a favor,” Kip said.
“I will do whatever you want, my dear Kip,” Ingrid said.
“Will you let me lie at your feet tonight?” - he asked.
- Is that all? Of course, I allow it,” said Ingrid.
- Thank you! - Kip answered.
That night Kip slept at Ingrid's feet. The next morning, when Ingrid woke up, she saw a lovely young princess in the place where the cat was sleeping.
She told Ingrid a strange story. She and her mother were bewitched by an evil sorceress. Their spell was to continue until they eliminated some great evil. Kip's mother died without breaking the spell. And Kip resisted the evil of the giant, and therefore the spell fell from him, and he became a princess.
Ingrid was very happy for the princess and invited her to live in the palace.
Soon a rich young prince was found for the princess and they got married.
And then Ingrid and her husband and the young princess and prince had children who, more than anything in the world, loved to listen to the story about Kip, the enchanted cat.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru